Pennsylvania Father Erick Gainer Beaten to Death by Cellmate Less Than 24 Hours Into 90-Day DUI Sentence

 

Erick Gainer, Pennsylvania father beaten to death by fellow cellmate, Dangelo Nowlin (pictured right side)

A Pennsylvania father was beaten to death by his cellmate less than a day after arriving at Cumberland County Prison to begin serving a 90-day sentence for a DUI conviction.

Erick Gainer, 41, of Williamsport, had just been booked into the jail on Oct. 22 when he was violently attacked in his cell the following morning. Court documents say another inmate heard Gainer screaming “Stop!” and “Help! What did I do to you?” before the assault ended.

Gainer, a father of one and a local bartender, had been sentenced on Oct. 21 for a 2023 DUI crash. He reported to the jail the next day. His girlfriend, Tessa Shorb, said she reassured him beforehand, telling him it was “one of the safest jails” and that he would be okay. Less than 24 hours later, she received the call informing her of his critical injuries.

Authorities say the attack was carried out by Gainer’s cellmate, Dangelo Nowlin, 33, who is accused of throwing Gainer from the top bunk before punching and kicking him repeatedly. Another inmate reportedly witnessed parts of the assault. Gainer was taken to the hospital with severe brain trauma and died the next evening, on Oct. 24.

Gainer’s brother, Lonnie Gainer, described him as a gentle and kind man, calling the killing “cold-blooded murder.”

Nowlin has been charged with criminal homicide. He had been jailed days earlier for trespassing and allegedly striking someone at a truck stop.

The case has raised questions about housing assignments, inmate monitoring, and response time inside the facility. Cumberland County officials say the investigation is ongoing.